2023 NFL Draft: Who Do the Jaguars Land in Pre-Combine Mock?
The Jacksonville Jaguars are just months away from the biggest decisions they will make all offseason.
After an AFC South title in 2022 and a playoff run that saw them pick up a home playoff win and take the eventual Super Bowl champions down to the wire in their own home, the Jaguars need to retool to reach their next step.
To do that, they will need to hit the 2023 NFL Draft out of the park. Early returns on their last two drafts have them pointed in the right direction, but this year's draft will help set the Jaguars on course for the future while they transition from a spending team to a draft-and-develop franchise.
With the Jaguars and the rest of the league set to join together in Indiapolis this week for the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine and free agency just two weeks away, the landscape of the league and the upcoming draft is set to change in a big way.
Before that happens, we are rolling with a three-round Jaguars' mock draft to give an idea of what some scenarios could look like before the Jaguars' roster undergoes changes.
Using Pro Football Network's Mock Draft Simulator, here is our latest projection for the Jaguars' first three picks.
No. 24: DB Brian Branch, Alabama
Ultimately, this is a dream scenario for the Jaguars. Not only do they add a versatile defensive back with ball skills, but they also fill one of their biggest needs in the form of nickel cornerback. While taking a slot corner at No. 24 likely isn't ideal most years, the Jaguars manage to still find value in this scenario.
It was a bit jarring to see Brian Branch still on the board when No. 24 came around, but it should be noted that he had very few true safety reps at Alabama and could be seen as a pure nickel prospect. If this is the case, a number of teams may not value him as high as other defenders on the board. Ultimately, it is realistic for Branch to get to No. 24, especially in a top-heavy cornerback class like this years.
This pick came down to Branch or Clemson's Bryan Bresee. With seven (seven!) cornerbacks taken in the first 23 picks, it was better to avoid the cornerback position so that the Jaguars wouldn't use their top asset on the draft's No. 8 cornerback. Bresee was appealing, but with the Jaguars' current roster, taking a playmaking defensive back makes more sense than going with a defensive lineman if the grades on the two players are equal.
Branch carries a solid first-round grade with Jaguar Report after a breakout career with Alabama. Branch appeared in all 15 games for Alabama in 2021, making impact plays in Alabama's biggest games, including six tackles and two pass breakups vs. Cincinnati. He recorded 55 tackles, five for loss and one sack. He also led the team in pass breakups with nine, while adding a fumble recovery.
2022 saw Branch start every single game for Alabama, playing the "star" position in Nick Saban's defense. He was named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press and a second-team All-SEC selection by the AP after recording 90 tackles. This included 14 tackles for loss, three sacks, seven pass breakups, and two interceptions.
No. 56: DL Gervon Dexter, Florida
The Jaguars made a big move toward addressing their defensive front's future this week when they signed Roy Robertson-Harris to a three-year contract extension, tying him to the Jaguars for four more seasons. The move to keep Robertson-Harris means the Jaguars will return all three of their interior defensive line starters from a year ago so it is tough to say defensive line is a screaming need at No. 24.
At No. 56, though? The Jaguars should have all options on the table. With players such as Corey Peters, Adam Gotsis, Dawuane Smoot, and Arden Key all set to be free agents on March 15, the Jaguars have plenty of interior snaps to replace both against the run and the pass. And that is where Gervon Dexter would come in.
Dexter may not have always played up to his potential with the Gators, but the explosive defensive tackle was a projected potential first-rounder entering this season for a reason. Dexter has the athleticism and first-step twitch to be a wrecking ball inside, whether against the run or pass. He would give the Jaguars insurance for Foley Fatukasi past 2023, while also giving the Jaguars a young, athletic defensive lineman to develop as a rookie.
No. 88: OT Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse
When doing research on this year's offensive tackle group and which prospects could potentially make sense as swing tackles during their rookie seasons, Syracuse's Matthew Bergeron stands out in a big way. The Canadian native made double-digit starts at both left and right tackle in his Syracuse career, meaning the Jaguars could trust him to step in as an immediate backup behind Cam Robinson and Walker Little as a rookie.
In terms of value, this feels like a solid pick for a number of reasons. For one, Bergeron is a player who could realistically carry some top-50 grades if he has a good week at the combine. He was a durable, versatile and productive tackle at the college level and he has years of experience at each tackle spot.
For the Jaguars, they will need to invest in their offensive line depth this offseason, even if it means taking a top-100 player who won't start as a rookie. While the Jaguars have brought back several members of the 2022 roster this offseason, it still remains to be seen whether there is a chance for Jawaan Taylor to stick with the Jaguars unless he is franchise-tagged. If he departs in free-agency, the Jaguars will have gone from three tackles they can trust to two in Cam Robinson and Walker Little, creating a disaster scenario if injuries ever pop up.
